Shoe heel and counter protector.



A No. 638,879. Patented Dec. l2, I899.

D. H. PACKARD.

SHOE HEEL AND COUNTER PROTECTOR.

(Application filed May 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

THE NORRIS PETERS co, Pnmouwo WASHINGTON, uv n.

*rA'nns Arnr DAVIS H. PACKARD, OF LESTERSHIRE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE METALLIC HEEL AND COUNTER COMPANY, OF KITTERY, MAINE.

SHOE HEEL AND COUNTER PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,879, dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed May 27, 1899. fiorial No. 718,525- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVIS H. PACKARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lestershire, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Heel and Counter Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an im provement in heel and counter protectors.

The object of the invention is to produce a heel and counter protector for use on boots and shoes which is constructed in one integral piece and which firmly secures the heel to the shoe and constitutes an efficient protector for the heel.

To the above end the invention consists in the heel and counter protector hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the protector in a different position, and Fig. 3 shows the protector attached to a shoe.

The device consists of a heel-cover 1, having integrally connected therewith a countercover 2,extended upward from the l1eel-cover, and there is preferably provided an inwardlyprojected ridge 3, located between the heelcover 1 and the counter-cover 2 and adapted to enter the crease between the upper and the rand of the heel. The lower edge of the heel-cover is provided with a bottom 4 for the heel, through which screws 5 are adapted to be screwed into the heel to secure the device to the shoe. I prefer to cut a notch 6 in the bottom 4 of the heel-protector and to have the level of the leather in the notch even with the level of bottom 4:, so as to afford a good foothold for the wearer; but such notch is not imperatively necessary to the successful carrying out of my invention in its simplest form.

The device, which may be made of any suitable material, preferably alnminium, is cast or pressed into the desired shape and may be applied to the shoe by pushing it on from the rear and securing it in place by screws or nails. When on a shoe, it not only prevents the heel from wearing unevenly, but by reason of the metal counter-protector it produces a leverage that prevents the wearers foot from turning over sidewise, so as to wear the heel off unevenly.

By the use of this heel and counter protector considerable cost is saved in the manu= facture of shoes, as cheaper leather stock may be used both for counters and for heels.

The bottom of my protector may be made light or heavy, and the part in contact with the ground may be made smooth or roughened to prevent slipping, thus taking the place of an ice-creeper.

I may provide the protector with suitable holes 7 to facilitate the escape of water from inside thereof, so that water will not be held between the shoe and the protector and soak through the shoe. I prefer to locate these holes just above the ridge 3. While these holes are of great utility when the shoe is worn in deep snow, they are not essential to the simplest embodiment of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- p 1. A shoe-protector consisting of a metallic shell, shaped inwardly and outwardly to con= form exactly to the shape of the shoe heel and counter, and having the inwardly-projecting ridge formed to engage the space between the heel and the upper of the shoe, and with the bottom plate with the center out out of it to fit a corresponding projection from the bottom of the shoe-heel, as described.

2. A shoe-protecter consisting of a metallic shell, shaped to conform to the shape of the shoe heel and counter and having a bottom plate for protecting the bottom of the heel, substantially as described.

3. A shoe-protector consisting of a metallic shell, shaped to conform to the shape of the shoe heel and counter, having the inwardlyprojecting ridge formed to engage the space between the heel and the upper of the shoe, open at its front, and having a bottom plate for protecting the bottom of the heel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVIS H. PACKARD.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM GORDON, T. HART ANDERSON. 

